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Creativity is Vital for Strategic Planning

Welcome to special edition of 'Weekly Bits'. As the year moves on and the global recession continues, I wanted to look at the strategic role creativity plays in driving business forward.

Welcome to special edition of 'Weekly Bits'. As the year moves on and the global recession continues, I wanted to look at the strategic role creativity plays in driving business forward.
Enjoy. Nige.

Navigating the Storm

Getting through the Global recession is a bit like being on a boat in the middle of the ocean during a storm.

As the storm rolls in the first thing you do is batten down the hatches and secure any loose items. The ship needs to be as ready as it can for the rough seas ahead. So you trim budgets, streamline your processes and ensure your business is as watertight as possible. Then you start jettisoning anything overboard that you don't need, unfortunately that often includes some of your people.

But then what happens? You wouldn't sit idle in the middle of the ocean waiting for the storm to pass because you'll be tossed about and completely at the mercy of the waves, wind and storm itself. You'd be in great danger of capsizing or even sinking.

The best plan of attack in this financial storm is to take action, start the engines, trim the sails and navigate your way through it. Try and find the best or smoothest course to take, or face the waves, drive head-on and take control.

What's your recession plan of attack?

Are you sitting idle waiting for the recession to pass or are you taking action? Do you have a plan of attack? Many companies have now battened down the hatches and secured their businesses as best they can, but now action has to be taken. We have to take charge and navigate a way through.

We can talk about this all we want, but what is really needed now is action. You need a strategic plan on the table that will get you and your organisation through the next 6 to 12 months and beyond.

Creativity is vital for strategic planning

If you're going to produce a strategy then thinking creatively is vital. A winning strategy is about finding the best solutions and business outcomes. Creativity allows that to happen. Creative thinking is more than just coming up with new and fresh ideas for products and services; it's about finding unique and clever strategies to drive your business.

A Strategic Planning Day

Have you got your team together, put time aside, and focused specifically on generating ideas and strategic solutions for the times ahead? A strategic planning day is where you can tap into the creative wisdom of your team, leverage their passion and stimulate creative thought.

Spending the time to generate real and workable ideas that will drive your business through the current times will pay huge dividends. For when the economy turns you'll have not only survived but you'll come out the other side stronger than ever.

Facilitation

To gain the best from your people and deliver the best outcomes it's necessary to have an objective and third eye perspective, someone who can also guide and direct the session, allowing you and your team to focus on your business and achieving planned outcomes.

Facilitation is about tapping into the creative wisdom of your team - the ideas are there, simmering under the surface, but they often need a bit of help to be drawn out. The best person to draw them out is an external and unbiased person. You'll be surprised at what your team can produce!